Collapsible bench



. May 24, 1949. I F. J. SCHMIDT 2,470,869

COLLAPSIBLE BENCH Filed Dec. 21, 1945 INVEN'I'OIZ.

FenA/c/s J SCI- M1077 m; Mm Arm ATTOENEY5 Patented May 24, 1949COLLAPSIBLE. BENCH Francis J. Schmidt, Wauwatosa, Wis, assignor to ThePeter-Schmidt Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of IllinoisApplication December 21, 1945, Serial No. 636,362

*7 Claims. (Cl. 155-151) This invention relates to improvements inbenches and the like.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a foldable bench foruse either as a table, a seat or something to stand upon, wherein thefolding legs will be held by a single combination latch and clamp bothin their erected position and in their collapsed position with greatsecurity and such firmness as to be free from shak ing or rattling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bench in which there isa novel arrangement of the braces with respect to notched legs, wherebythe notches of the legs are adapted, when the legs tures It or H of therespective braces is engaged over the pins, the swinging pivotalmovement of latch member 2E3 to a position transverse respecting thebench top will secure the braces against displacement and thereupon thetightening of the wing nut l9 will effectively clamp the braces to makethe entire structure rigid and rattle-free.

The downwardly tilted end portions 9 of the braces accommodate the anglenecessary when the legs are erected as shown in Fig. 1. When the legsare collapsed, as shown in Fig. 3, the end portions 9 of the braces areaccommodated in the respective notches 6 and they do not project beyondthe plane of the outer faces of the collapsed are collapsed, to receivethe ends of the braces. 15. legs.

Still another object of the invention is the prous the e tire bench m ye l p d. 110 a vision of a combination brace, latch and clamp thicknessrepresented by the combined thickness effective on the braces in each oftwo positions Of t e legs and the top and t e Collapsed s Will thereofto hold the legs erected or collapsed. not y be e d securely but will beclamped by In the drawings: the same combination latch and clamp whichis Fig 1 is a tt perspegfive of an t d used to hold them with equalsecurity and rigidity bench embodying the invention. When the legs areerected.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail View in bottom The resulting b ch is 0ily Stwng but B plan showing the combination latch and clamp. cebt o llystable and has a variety ofuses, as

Fig. 3 is a View in bottom perspective showing previously d cated.

the device with the legs collapsed for convenient transportation orstorage.

To the bench top 4 are hinged the end frames or legs 5, each of which ispreferably notched at 6. Identical braces 1 have hinged terminal mounts8 connecting them with the respective legs 5. At their free ends therespective braces are bent downwardly at 9 and apertured at 6. Thebraces have other apertures H intermediate their ends.

Upon the lower face of the bench top Q there is a plate l5 which is heldto the bench top by screws H5 at its corners and is provided with spaceddownwardly projecting pins l'l over which the respective apertures It,H, of the respective braces are selectively engageable.

Midway between the pins ll, the plate l6 carries a threaded stud it uponwhich there is a wing nut l9. Pivoted on the stud and subject to thethrust of the wing nut is is a combination latch and clamp plate 25having on its opposite margins oppositely directed notches 2|.

The relative dimensions of member so and the braces and the spacingbetween pins I! is such that when the wing nut is is loosened and themember 20 is swung to a position of substantial alignment with thelongitudinal center line of the bench top 4, the respective braces willbe free for engagement with and release from the pins IT, as best shownin Fig. 2. When either of the aper- I claim:

1. A bench comprising the combination with a top having end framescomprising legs pivoted to the lower face of the top adjacent its ends,and brace means pivotally connected with the respective end frames andprojecting centrally beneath the top, said top being provided on itslower face with anchorage means with which the respective brace meansare selectively engageable in the respective positions of said bracemeans when the legs are erected and when they are folded, said anchoragemeans comprising a pair of spaced pins, and a latch member pivotedbetween said pins and notched for engagement about both of said pins,the respective brace means having apertures at selected points forreceiving said pins, said brace means being releasably held on the pinsby said latch member.

2. A bench comprising a top and legs pivoted to the top beneath the endsthereof and movable between erected positions, and folded positions inwhich said legs are collapsed into substantial face contact with theunder surface of said top, and brace straps pivotally connected with therespective legs, a centrally disposed threaded stud projectingdownwardly from said top, a nut upon said stud, a pivoted latch memberon the stud supported by said nut and provided with marginal notches,pins fastened in the top beside the stud and with which the notchedmargins of the latch member are engageable upon the pivotal movement ofsaid latch member on said stud, said braces having apertures engageablewith said pins and adapted to be latched and clamped in place on saidpins by the movement of said latch member with its marginal notchesreceiving said pins and the tightening of said nut; upon said latchmember whereby to transmit clamping pressure therethrough to said bracestraps.

3. In a bench comprising a top and foldable legs, mechanism forreleasably latching and clamping said legs in erected and foldedpositions, said mechanism comprising braces hinged- 1y connected withthe legs and provided with a plurality of apertures, pins with whichselected apertures of the respective bracesare engageable in the saidpositions of the legs, a threaded stud, said pins and stud beingconnected with and depending from said top in adjacent position, latchmeans pivoted to the stud and engageable beneath said braces to securesaid braces against release from said pins, and a clamping nut upon saidstud in supporting relation to said latch means, said latch means beingadapted to transmit clamping pressure from said nut to said braces.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which a plate applied to thebottom of the bench top carries said pins and stud.

5. In a bench of the type having a to and legs hinged thereto and bracesconnected to the legs for holding-the legs in erected or foldedpositions, the combination with a threaded stud connected to anddepending from the top, of a 4 latch plate pivoted on the stud forswinging movement between positions transverse respecting the bench andlongitudinal respecting the bench, said latch plate having its oppositemargins provided with notches adjacent its opposite ends and pinsconnected to and dependent from the top and with, i h the re ireibraes ae a e sea and-disposed at such a; radius from said stud as to beengageable beneath said braces by the notched margins of said latchplate, together with means supporting said latch plate on said stud.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 in which said last mentionedmeans comprises a clamp nut.

7. The combination set forth in claim 5 in which said stud and pins aremounted on a mounting plate fixed to the top, and the supporting meanslast mentioned comprises a wing nut on said stud.

FRANCIS J, SCHMIDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES: ,"PATENTS Number Name Date 159,227 SinclairJan. 26, 1875 1,585,598 Miner May 18, 1926 2,279,122 Kovalchuk Apr. 7,1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 262,087 Great Britain Apr. 7,1927 596,374 France Aug. 8, 1925

